The weekly top equine product picks are curated by Publisher Lauren Abbott. What are your favorite horse products that stay in your barn?
I have three horses, a 23-year-old Thoroughbred, Gage, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred, Kevin, and a 15-year-old Mustang, Josie. Their activity levels are completely different and so are their metabolisms, anxiety levels, performance levels and overall health.
My 23-year-old has been retired from riding for almost seven years. His day-to-day activity ranges from eating breakfast, to grazing in the pasture, snoozing under a fan during the hottest times of the day, back to eating dinner, and grazing more. He lives outside 24/7 with access to his stall that is open to his pasture. He really has nothing that stresses him aside from pesky flies, the extreme heat, and his little Mustang brother who is glued to his side 24/7.
My 7-year-old Thoroughbred is in a 5-day-a-week training program. He lives outside 24/7, eats his AM and PM feedings in the pasture, and has morning training sessions every weekday. He too deals with summer flies, the extreme heat, on top of consistent training and exercise.
My Mustang lives with my 23-year-old TB so his day to day activity is very similar. However, he has more alertness to his surroundings. He was born with that alertness due to being born in the wild. He stresses more over any different noise or movement he sees and is always in flight mode, much more than his TB pasture mate. Josie is my “take it easy” trail partner and he’ll be getting a boost in riding this fall.
Even though all three of my geldings are completely different I have found three products that I use on each of them.
My first product that I love for all three is the UltraShield EX Flay Spray. Here in the south we are always fighting flies and fly management is one I take seriously. Gage, my senior TB, also has sensitive skin so it is important for me to keep a fly repellent on hand.
Here are the top things I love about UltraShield EX Fly Spray:
- Kills and repels more than 70 species of biting and nuisance flies, mosquitoes, ticks, and gnats
- Weatherproof for up to 17 days with UltraBond™ Technology
- Ideal for the most challenging conditions
- Advanced formula contains multiple sunscreens and coat conditioners, including aloe and lanolin- one of my favorite aspects of this product!
- Ready to use, water-based formula
- Can be used on horses, donkeys, mules, dogs, and as a premise spray- yes, I even use it on my dogs when they are in the barn with me!
If you are looking for a fly repellent that does more than keep flies from bitting this one is one I always turn to. The sunscreen helps protect my horses’ coat from bleaching out, something that is very common for horses who live outside 24/7. I also like that it helps with ticks as well. Most local tack and feed stores carry UltraShield, which is made by Absorbine so I encourage you to shop local to support your local equine businesses. If you cannot find this at your local tack or feed store then be sure to order online from our partners at Smartpak: UltraShield Fly Spray.
2. Farrier's Formula® Double Strength
The next product is one that I love for my horses’ feet! Farrier's Formula® Double Strength is one I started using over a decade ago after my farrier recommended it for my 23-year-old TB when he was younger and in jump training. Gage always struggled with cracks, flares, and abscesses in his hooves. I kept him on this supplement for the better half of his performance days. I liked the Double Strength because it meant I did not have to supplement twice a day, saving me some cost and elongating the period between picking up a new bucket. It also helped his skin and coat and I always had complements on his beautiful shiny coat. My farrier noticed a change in his hooves after only 90 days of starting it. I currently have all three of my horses barefoot and this is my go to if I see any major cracking, brittleness or weakness in their hooves.
Here are the main benefits of this Farrier's Formula Double Strength:
Farrier's Formula® is the original hoof supplement, validated through independent university research, and the #1 recommended* hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years. Provides a comprehensive selection of nutrients for the health of the hoof, skin, and coat! The nutrients in Farrier's Formula® Double Strength, important for a healthy hoof, are provided at twice the concentration compared to original Farrier's Formula®with the taste that horses love!
The 11 lb nitrogen-flushed vacuum package or 11 lb bucket deliver:
- Twice the number of daily doses compared to original Farrier's Formula®
- A 60 day supply for a 1,000 lb horse at the adult replenishment/maintenance Feeding Level
- Added benefit of being more economical to feed compared to original Farrier's Formula®.
Our partners at SmartPak have this available in the bag or bucket, and also customizable in their paks. Again, check with your local stores but you can order this here: Farrier's Formula Double Strength
3. UlcerGard
The last product and supplement is one most equestrians have heard of, UlcerGard. UlcerGard is the non-prescription ulcer preventative supplement. I have used this on all three of my horses, for different reasons. I started using this on Gage, my senior TB when he was younger.
One summer he overheated during an extreme, high heat summer. He experienced a full heat stroke and stayed at the equine hospital for a week. Due to the stress and emergency, his system shut down completely, and he stopped sweating. Eventually he started to sweat again, but during that period I started him on UlcerGard to protect and prevent ulcers from forming, which would have caused more stress on his fragile system.
He made a full recovery and afterwards it was something I kept on hand and would supplement with anytime he had an increase in exercise, especially during the summers, or if he displayed signs of stress and anxiety.
I used this on my 7-year-old OTTB, Kevin, when I first purchased him. He had been off the track for only 3 months and I knew he may have had ulcers during his racing days. During his transition from racehorse to being just a horse I was very careful with his nutrition. This helped during that transition. I also supplemented this when he arrived at his training barn. Being in a new location and starting training was stressful. He stays on Ugard to help maintain his gut health and prevent ulcers.
What I love about UlcerGard:
It is a non-prescription proven preventative supplement!
It actively prevents stomach ulcers and the pain and discomfort that often accompanies them during times of increased stress or exercise. ULCERGARD is the first and only proven non-prescription preventative for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. No other product is FDA-approved to prevent stomach ulcers in horses. Each tube of ULCERGARD contains four preventative doses for horses weighing between 600 and 1,200 pounds. Two doses are recommended for horses weighing more than 1,200 pounds.
You can order UlcerGard here: UlcerGard Non-prescription Preventative Supplement
Your veterinarian may also have some on hand and/ or your local tack or feed store as well. Make sure you consult with your veterinarian before starting your horse or horses on any new supplements.
These Top Three Product Picks are all very different, but they are ones I have on hand and that all three of my horses have benefitted from. What are your top products you keep in the barn at all times? Email me your favorite products (labbott@mshorsereview.com) and I will be happy to review those as well.
